UK clinical decision support scheme based on software developed in Ireland
Three major NHS Trusts in the Greater Manchester region will be deploying clinical decision support (CDS) software developed by Irish healthtech start-up xWave Technologies under a new scheme, GP Direct Access.
Led by the Greater Manchester Imaging Network, the three NHS Trusts (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), GP Direct Access will allow GPs to order CT scans of the chest, stomach and hip areas of the body and MRI scans of the brain, in addition to the x-rays and ultrasounds they can already order.
The scheme will allow GPs to order the checks directly, helping to cut down wait times for patients and reducing the need for a specialist consultation first which will free up already stretched hospital staff.
XWave CDS provides guidance to GPs in ordering the most appropriate scan for patients and seamlessly integrates with the Royal College of Radiologists’ iRefer guidelines and also saves administration time for those staff currently manually processing orders via e-mail/paper systems. In addition, the Trusts will implement xWave Smart Referring, a cloud-based digital referral platform that incorporates decision support directly into the referral process.
Mitchell O’Gorman, CEO, xWave Technologies, said: “At a time when radiology waiting lists are growing and workforce shortages are intensifying, tools like ours can help Trusts deliver faster, smarter, and more equitable access to diagnostic imaging.”
Catherine Walsh, associate director of the Greater Manchester Imaging Network, said: “These tools will not only improve outcomes for patients by ensuring they get the right scan at the right time, but they will also support our hardworking GPs and radiology teams by streamlining workflows and optimising use of limited resources.”
O’Gorman added: “The rollout of xWave’s platform comes as NHS England is making additional funding available for NHS Trusts that have not yet adopted clinical decision support solutions. This funding is intended to support broader adoption of CDS technologies, such as xWave CDS, to reduce unnecessary imaging, alleviate pressure on radiology services, and ensure patients receive timely and accurate diagnoses.”
The technology is set to be rolled out across Greater Manchester throughout 2025 and 2026.
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